BOURNEFEST 2025 - 18th October 2025

BOURNEFEST 2025 !!!!!

Bournefest has welcomed some of the best in Blues, Rock & Roots to the stage since 2019.

We are excited to be back in Sittingbourne for another exciting lineup of 5 National & International Acts that you won't want to miss 

Earlybird Tickets Now Available

Already Announced for BOURNEFEST 2025 :

Ally Venable

Critically acclaimed Texas based blues rock guitarist and vocalist Ally Venable will release her

highly anticipated new studio album Money & Power via Ruf Records on Friday 18 April 2025.

Rules are there to be broken. Expectations are there to be defied. Glass ceilings are there to be

shattered. Having spent the past decade carving out her own unique space in the male-dominated

world of blues-rock, Ally Venable’s combative sixth album, Money & Power, demands more of

both – for herself, for women around the world, and for anyone else who thought they weren’t

worthy of a seat at the table.

“Money & Power is such a strong statement, especially for women,” says the award-winning Texas

gunslinger of her Nashville-recorded new release, on which Ally’s crack-squad band is joined by A-

list guests Shemekia Copeland and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram.

“All the songs on this album showcase the theme of what it truly means to be a force to be

reckoned with. I want this record to wake people up,” continues Ally.

Money and power make the world go round. But in the right hands, music can be every bit as

potent. Right now, on the heels of 2023’s acclaimed Real Gone – an album that hit #1 on the

Billboard Blues Charts and was still in contention a year later – Ally is rated amongst the best

young singer-songwriters in American roots, saluted by Total Guitar magazine in its poll of Top 100

Blues Guitarists.

“With her heels,

sequins and Les Paul growling on a leash, she’s one of Ruf’s most head-turning young artists,”

wrote Classic Rock, “and while the instrumental prowess can be taken as read, Real Gone

marks a growing maturity in the Texan’s songcraft.”

In February 2024, with the dust still settling from Real Gone, the Money & Power sessions saw

Ally and producer/drummer Tom Hambridge push through the doors of Nashville’s famous

Soundstage Studios. And while the studio band was strictly A-list, as always, Ally’s new

songs are the real stars. That attitude is palpable on opener “Brown Liquor,” Ally’s battlecry

decorated by a stinging guest guitar solo from the Mississippi hotshot Christone ‘Kingfish’

Ingram.

“Maybe Someday” is a blissful moment of redemptive soul, carried along by horns and barbed

lyrics aimed at an old flame. Next up is the white-hot title track, with Ally’s guitar set to scorch

and a seething message.

“Money & Power shouts to the masses,” she explains, “that women are not to be doubted in

their ability to thrive in the world.”

Vital right to the end, Money & Power plays out with “Stepping Stone’s” earthy roar of

empowerment, the shuddering, spooky, tremolo-soaked groove of “Feel That Sting, ” and the

dustblown rocker “Unbreakable,” where Ally goes toe-to-toe with New York powerhouse

Shemekia Copeland.

“That song spreads a message of women that have been oppressed,” she says, “to rise to the

occasion and break above it all.”

Money & Power is a modern roots record that plays by its own rules and marches to the beat

of its own drum. The same could be said for Ally herself. “I’m thrilled to release this album,” she

says. “For me, it’s a sonic embodiment of a woman’s unstoppable ambition, and really

showcases my musicality on all fronts. I’m looking forward to seeing where this one will take

me.”

 

HIPPIES & COWBOYS 

Hippies And Cowboys are a powerhouse rock ’n soul band hailing from Nashville, TN,

bringing back the grit, groove, and raw energy of classic Southern rock with a modern

twist. Their electrifying blend of blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll channels the timeless

influences of legends like Sam & Dave, The Blues Brothers, Booker T. & The MG’s, Otis

Redding, and Marvin Gaye, while embracing the stadium-sized swagger of Aerosmith,

Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty.

From their early recordings in the legendary studios — such as FAME in Muscle Shoals,

East Avalon, and Noise Block—to their explosive live performances, Hippies And

Cowboys have quickly become one of the most talked-about rising acts in the Southern

rock revival. Their debut album, Live at Fox and Locke (2023), captured the raw energy of

their live show, earning critical acclaim and setting the stage for their breakout. The

follow-up EP, Fork in the Road, solidified their reputation with a gritty, hard-hitting

collection of songs that showcase their deep Southern roots and undeniable

musicianship. Hippies and Cowboys has also been the house band at Kid Rock's Honky

Tonk on Broadway in downtown Nashville for numerous years which has allowed them

an extensive repertoire of songs and abilities.

Hippies And Cowboys have taken their high-energy show across the country, playing at

major festivals like Pilgrimage Festival and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Revival. They've

shared the stage with rock and country royalty, opening for acts like Goo Goo Dolls,

Blackberry Smoke, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and even Bon Jovi at the grand opening of

his Nashville bar. Their relentless touring schedule and electrifying performances have

built them a loyal following, earning them a reputation as one of the most exciting live

bands on the circuit. In 2025, they are slated to perform at Chinook Festival, Pilgimage

Festival, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Revival, WEFest, and much more with plans to tour

Europe in October 2025.

Their rise hasn’t gone unnoticed—Hippies And Cowboys have been featured in Rolling

Stone, People Magazine, and Paste Magazine, solidifying their place as a band to watch

in the evolving Southern rock landscape. As they continue to carve their own path,

Hippies And Cowboys are proving that the spirit of rock 'n' roll is alive and well, and

they’re here to take it to the next level.

 

 

Big Wolf Band

Formed in Birmingham in 2014, by acclaimed guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jonathan Earp and bass player Mick Jeynes, explosive, dynamic, raw, emotional, and hardworking are just some of the words used to describe the Big Wolf Band. With Tim Jones on drums, Justin Johnson on guitar and Robin Fox on keys they form one formidable blues rock machine. Big Wolf Band are on the rise making the Top 5 of the best blues bands in the UK via the UK Blues Awards in 2023 and 2024, receiving multiple nominations in various categories. Big Wolf Band have cemented there place as one of the best live bands on the scene.

Big Wolf Band have garnered airplay from Paul Jones on his Radio 2 show, Planet Rock, HRH radio, FM radio across Europe, Australia and the USA and a wide range of international podcasts and internet radio stations. They have also had some amazing reviews of their albums across the globe. Big Wolf Band started their biggest headline tour in 2024 extensively touring the UK and Europe. "Rebel's Journey" the third Big Wolf Band studio album was released worldwide on 19th April 2024 to much acclaim with multiple reviews to back this up and the album itself reached Number 1 in the Amazon Best Selling Blues Chart, Amazon Hot New Releases and most recently Number 1 in the IBBA chart for May 2024. Several tracks being added to Joe Bonamassa’s Spotify Playlist “Cutting Edge Blues” and “Ultimate Blues Rock.”  They are still touring extensively across the UK.

UK Blues Band of the Year Finalist 2024    

UK Blues Band of the Year Finalist 2023    

UK Blues Challenge Finalist 2022  

Multiple Award Nominees in 2023 and 2024 UK Blues Federation Blues Awards

 The Della Grants

The Della Grants are an English band whose self-penned songs seamlessly bridge the gaps between Blues, Rock, and Americana. Since their inception in 2014 The DGs have made a name for themselves among industry professionals and fellow musicians alike; for their song writing ability and on-stage performances.

 

Richard Clarke Band:

“The guitar spoke to me, and I was hooked from the moment I picked it up.

”Richard Clarke is a London-based blues artist, known for his intricate guitar work and stirring vocals, with nearly two decades of experience performing across Europe.He began playing professionally at the age of 15, cutting his teeth in local venues on the outskirts of London. His talent soon gained recognition in the UK blues scene, earning nominations for UK Blues Male Vocalist and Guitarist of the Year in 2013.

Over the next decade, he continued to refine his craft, taking his infectious personality and energetic performances across Europe, including a prestigious show for royalty in the UAE. Most recently, he toured Central Europe as a founding memberof Connolly Hayes, a UK Blues Emerging Act of the Year 2024 nominee before leaving the band in October 2024 to pursue a solo career.

Influenced by blues legends John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and BB King, Richard delivers a signature blend of blues, R&B, soul, and pop. His live performances combine melodic guitar work with infectious grooves, wooing audiences across intimate venues and major festivals.2025 sees Richard step forward as a solo artist with four original tracks produced by Adrian Hall. The new EP showcases his musical range, opening with the upbeat “Good Thing” before easing into a soulful re-release of “Sleeping Easy.” The heartfelt “Don’t Know Where I Went Wrong” strips everything back, before the funk-infused “Something’s Going On” rounds off the collection.Backed by an accomplished lineup featuring bassist Sonny Winslow (Connor Selby), drummer Jonny Brister (Jake Shears), and Paul Jordanous (Rag ‘n’ Bone Man) on keys and trumpet, Richard is excited to bring his new materialto the UK and European stages in the year ahead.